WaterAid scales up WASH facilities for disease prevention at Uganda/Congo border

 

WaterAid scales up WASH facilities for disease prevention at Uganda/Congo border

Women from Vurra Community checking out the new facility provided by WaterAid and UWASNET.

KAMPALA, Uganda, 25 November 2022 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- WaterAid East Africa and implementing partner, Uganda Water and Sanitation Network (UWASNET), handed over a new gender-inclusive and disability- friendly sanitation block to the management of the border post and Vurra community. The sanitation block, which is being handed over few days after the commemoration of World Toilet Day, consists of four toilets each for men and women, including special suites for persons with disabilities, three urinal bowls for men, six bathrooms and a store. Vurra border post is a key goods-clearing and immigration checkpoint for Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo, and due to high rate of border movements and inadequate WASH facilities, the post potentially exposes people to the risk of communicable diseases. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, about 500 trucks crossed the border post daily with commuters overstretching the toilet facilities in the guest houses and restaurants. This new intervention by WaterAid East Africa, forms part of the second phase the organisation’s cross-border WASH projects, aimed at helping countries improve pandemic preparedness after the disruption by COVID-19. The first phase of the border intervention was successfully delivered in 2021.  During the first phase, WaterAid worked with UWASNET to install six contactless handwashing facilities at Vurra border. Speaking on the second phase and introduction of sanitation facilities, Regional Director for WaterAid East Africa, Olutayo Bankole-Bolawole said it was borne out of the need to have a more integrated approach in curbing the spread of communicable diseases.  “With COVID-19 and now Ebola Virus Disease, it is clear that the risk of emergence of infectious diseases has increased over the past few years, and this can be traced to high mobility of people that is witnessed at border points. After the completion of the first phase of WaterAid’s response, we conducted an assessment and concluded based on impact of the first phase, to have a more holistic approach, which requires providing access to integrated WASH facilities and hygiene behaviour change trainings”.

“Inadequate sanitation systems spread human waste into rivers, lakes and soil and this pollutes water resources and impacts people's health. Poor sanitation is also linked to diarrheal diseases which results in the death of about 800 children globally, every day. Ensuring that toilets are climate-resilient and connected to a proper sanitation system that effectively removes and treats human waste is key in promoting good health and protecting the environment”.   Olutayo added that “Border points are very significant in boosting the economy of countries, but without these basic WASH services, it becomes very difficult for people to protect themselves and contribute to a prosperous economy. Research shows that handwashing with soap reduces diarrheal diseases by 30%, can reduce acute respiratory infections by up to 20% and it plays an important role in reducing the transmission of outbreak-related pathogens such as cholera, Ebola, shigellosis, SARS, hepatitis E, and COVID-19. Investment in WASH is worth it and we encourage governments across the region to prioritise investing more in WASH to ensure preventive measures against diseases, rather than seeking for curative measures when people’s lives are in danger”.  In line with its global and regional strategy, WaterAid aims to inspire and accelerate action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which promises access to sanitation and water for all by 2030.  Since 2021, WaterAid East Africa has been working closely with partners, including WASH networks in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda country programmes, to curb the spread of infectious diseases along cross-country border routes in East Africa. So far, the organisation has embarked on 9 border interventions covering six countries- Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania. These include Busia border between Kenya and Uganda; Holili border between Tanzania and Kenya; Malaba border between Kenya and Uganda; Nemba border between Rwanda and Burundi; Horohoro border which serves Tanzania and Kenya; Lungalunga border serving Kenya and Tanzania; and Rusizi border between Rwanda and DRC Yunia Musaazi, Executive Director of UWASNET appreciated WaterAid for the initiative. "UWASNET is grateful to WaterAid for having partnered with us to contribute to the fight against pandemics in the world like COVID-19 and Ebola. We are also grateful to WaterAid for having listened to the voices of Vurra and Arua districts who called for the effective curbing of communicable WASH-related diseases by offering a full WASH package for transient communities."  Prior to WaterAid’s intervention, the poor conditions of the toilets contributed to an increase in open defecation. "In the past, we've experienced health problems due to the poor sanitation we've had. Now we have beautiful toilets, with urinals, we can use the toilets and the bathrooms. We welcome these facilities with open arms," said Taban Joseph, the Operations Manager for Cargo Trans and a leader in the long-distance drivers community.